2021-12-10

Senior Researcher Support – Mogadishu, Somalia

Mogadishu, Somalia
Posted on December 10, 2021

CTG Global

Senior Researcher Support – Mogadishu, Somalia

Closing Date: 2021-12-15

Job description

CTG overview

CTG stands for Committed To Good. With an ethical approach at the heart of all that we do, it is a description that makes us proud. Respect for the fundamental human rights of our staff, and those our staff encounter, is a cornerstone of our values. We strive for gender equality, inclusion and diversity, providing fair and equal opportunities for all. We take a zero tolerance approach to corruption and stay true to local labour laws and all local statutory requirements. In operation since 2006, today we are honoured to serve clients in 15 fragile and conflict-affected states assisting with disaster relief, peace building, humanitarian aid and development programmes through our specialised recruitment, HR management and operational services.

Overview of position

1)Based on a request from Federal Government of Somalia (FGS), our client Group is providing Bank Executed (BE) Technical Assistance – Somalia Customs Support Project – to contribute to increased capacity and intergovernmental coordination for customs and inland revenue administration in the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and selected[1] Federal Member States (FMSs).

2)The Somalia Customs Support Project (SCSP) provides financing in the amount of US$ 2 million to the Federal Republic of Somalia (FGS) from the Global Tax Program (GTP Country Window: Somalia Customs Support) with Norad support. This BE support responds to FGS vision to help improve state legitimacy to be achieved, among others, through improved revenue collection.

3)The SCSP directly contributes to the IDA Domestic Revenue Mobilization and Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project (DRM & PFM), project development objectives (PDO^[2]) and the customs related objectives of the Recurrent Cost and Reforms Financing Project^[3] (RCRF). This support includes: (i) high-level technical assistance; (ii) Just in Time (JIT) Advisory Services and Analytical (ASA) work; and (iii) training and capacity building of the local counterparts.

4)In addition, this TA is also expected to extend the support to the other FMSs^[4] . Also, the support will be closely coordinated with the Inland Revenue Department to help manage potential risk of uneven progress^[5] in improving revenue mobilization practices across customs and the inland revenue. In this regard, the fact that the Director General Revenue, who is the key counterpart for both the IDA Projects, and the proposed Project helps further.

The SCSP contributes to the DRM agenda of the first ever Country Partnership Framework (CPF – 2019-2022) for Somalia, and the two Recipient-executed (RE) grants approved on September 25, 2018 by our client Group – the first direct International Development Association (IDA) to the African nation in 30 years. Also, the SCSP is strategically aligned with the most recent Interim Strategy Note (ISN) fiscal year (FY) 2014-2016^[6], Systemic Country Diagnostics (SCD)^[7]. More specifically, it supports the CPF focus area of building institutions to harmonize and strengthen the systems for customs with the final objective of collecting revenues and avoiding tax competition

[1]Primarily, Puntland State of Somalia, and Jubbaland State of Somalia. Potentially, South West, Hirshabelle, and Galmudug States of Somalia.

[2]To strengthen systems of domestic revenue mobilization, expenditure control and accountability in the Federal Government, Puntland State of Somalia, and Somaliland

[3] More specifically, the financing will contribute to the development objective primarily, of the Domestic Revenue Mobilization and Public Financial Management Capacity Strengthening Project (DRM & PFM – P166206) Additional Financing (AF), funded from the IDA resources (US$ 20 million), and the Somalia Multi-Partner Fund (SMPF) resources (US$ 10 million), bringing the total financing of the AF to US$30 million. Also, the second Recurrent Cost and Reform Financing (RCRF II AF-P167224) AF funded from the IDA resources (US$60 million), and SMPF resources (US$2 million), bringing the total financing of the AF to US$ 62 million.

[4]Jubbaland State of Somalia, South West State of Somalia, Galmudug State of Somalia, and Hirshabelle State of Somalia.

[5] Since uneven progress in improving revenue mobilization practices across customs and the tax authorities could lead to an (inadvertent) perception of unequal treatment if, for instance, tax pressures on firms engaged in international trade augment much more rapidly than tax pressures on firms purely focused on the domestic market.

^[6]WB project P124647, report number 39951-SO.

^[7] WB project P155548, report number 123807-SO.

I.RATIONALE

1)Our client seeks to hire a international consultant. More specifically, the Consultant is expected to lead a team of local consultants, in conducting diagnostic and analytical work, potentially to inform government-led customs and inland reforms, among others including:

(i)DRM accountability and transparency framework[1];

(ii)Taxpayer education and facilitation for enhanced voluntary compliance, potentially including through the use of technology; and

Inland revenue risk management framework and DRM Organizational Structures and Staffing Strategic Review

[1]The broad parameters of the framework have been discussed with the client and are based on the TADAT for inland revenue and Arousha Declaration for customs.

Role objectives

I.ACCOUNTABILITIES – DELIVERABLES (OUTPUTS) AND EXPECTED INPUTS

Sr#	Deliverable	Responsibility / Timeline	Estimated Inputs
1)	Design and conduct surveys including preparation of the tools, messages, narratives depending on the reform intervention / activity. Likely, focused on the DRM accountability and transparency framework	Lead, orient, train, and supervise local consultants and conduct survey.	6
2)	(i) Supervise local team to collect data. (ii) Analyze data. (iii) Prepare report. This includes, leading follow-up work as may be required	(i) Analyze the data and conduct follow up as may be required. (ii) Prepare draft report and submit for the Bank review. (iii) Respond to the comments and update the report.	6
3)	Supervise local team to organize and conduct at-least one taxpayer engagement event as the scope of the activity envisages	(i) Supervise the local consultants to organize and conduct workshops / focus group discussions, including simple evaluation of such event (s). (ii) Support the local consultants prepare event reports, and submit for the Bank review. (iii) Respond to the comments and update the report.	4
4)	Explore options for the use of technology in supporting taxpayer engagement – education and facilitation to support voluntary compliance and strengthening tax morale	(i) Options analysis report. (ii) Designed solutions and follow-up plan (iii) Draft messages, narratives depending on the reform intervention / activity to help influence awareness, facilitation, education, and trust-building within the local context.	4
5)	Total inputs: Up to a total of 20 days on actual use and deliverable basis		20

Project reporting

The Consultant will have direct reporting to the WBG Task Team Leader SCSP. In doing so, the Consultant will be expected to work closely particularly with the FGS DG Revenue

Key competencies

N/A

Team management

N/A

Further information

N/A

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